On Friday morning, a Georgia woman was killed in an automobile collision
that occurred when her vehicle was struck by a truck tire that came loose
on Interstate 85 near Clairmont Road. Witnesses reported that the tire
separated from a truck that was driving in the opposite direction. The
tire flew about 50 feet in the air and crossed a concrete median and several
lanes of busy rush hour traffic before hitting the woman’s car.
The woman’s van was struck at the location where the windshield
and roof meet, ripping off the vehicle’s roof and killing the driver
on impact. The woman was driving her 16 year old daughter to school; the
student did not sustain any injuries. The truck driver also escaped the
accident unharmed.

DeKalb Police have not yet determined what caused the tire to come off
the truck. However, the truck driver informed police officers that he
was forced to make a defensive maneuver in order to prevent a collision
when another vehicle came into his lane.

Tire failure is responsible for five automobile accident fatalities a year.

Tire failure can cause serious automobile accidents, which lead to injury
and death. According to the most recent data available from the Georgia
Department of Transportation, approximately five fatalities a year are
attributed to tire failure that resulted in vehicle collisions on Georgia roadways.

An attorney can determine whether tire failure was the result of negligence.

There are a variety of reasons why a party may be liable to you for negligence
resulting from tire failure.

Defective Tires:

Defective tires are usually the result of an error in the manufacturing
process. A manufacturer may recall a product if they realize that the
product is defective or unsafe. When this happens the manufacturer will
replace the product and pay for the damages that result from using the
defective product.

However, sometimes a tire defect is unique to a single tire or the manufacturer
has not yet learned of the product defect when an accident occurs. The
manufacturer is still liable for the damages that result from the defective tire.

Failure to Maintain or Inspect:

In some circumstances, tire failure is caused by the owner’s improper
maintenance, or lack of maintenance to the tire. For example, in the case
of commercial trucks, a trucking company or commercial driver may be driving
on a tire with a tread depth that is lower than the minimum standards
set by the Department of Transportation. Or, they may have paired tires
with significantly different wear or mounted mismatched tire sizes.

Tire failure may also be caused by an owner’s failure to inspect
tires before a trip. For example, inspection of a commercial truck can
identify improper tire pressure, and worn or damaged tires, which can
lead to a truck accidents.

If you have been involved in an accident that was caused by tire failure,
you should speak to an attorney immediately. An attorney can review the
facts of your case and determine whether your accident was caused by the
negligence of another party. If so, you may be entitled to compensation
for your losses.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.